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(No Model.) 2Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. A. WRIGHT.

Flax Brake.

No. 238,266. Patehted March 1,1881.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet'Q. W. A. WRIGHT. Flax Brake.

No. 238,266. Paterited March 1, I881.

ATTOP IEY.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM A. .WRIGHT, OF CENTRETON, NEW J ERSEY, ASSIGNOR OF TWO- THIRDS TO JOSEPH B. DE YOUNG AND CHARLES Z. DE YOUNG, OF PHILA- DELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

FLAX-BRAKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 238,266, dated March 1, 1881. Application filedJune 12,1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. WRIGHT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oentreton, in the county of Burlington, State 5 of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Flax-Brakes, which im provement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings, in which-- re Figures 1 and 2 are views of opposite sides of the flax-brake embodying my invention. Fig. 3 is a vertical section thereof in line m, Fig. 4.. Fig. 4. is a top or plan view thereof. Fig. 5 is a transverse section of a portion in I line 3 y, Fig. 3.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

My invention consists of certain improvements in flax-brakes, as will be hereinafter fully set forth and definitely claimed.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the frame of the brake or machine, and B the feedtable thereof.

0 represents the driving-shaft, which, by means of proper pulleys, bands, or gearing, communicates power to the other parts of the machine requiring it.

D represents a vertically-arranged hammer or brake, which is fitted to guides at on the 0 frame A, at the inner end of the table B, and

has connected to its sides arms E,whose.lower ends are attached to levers F F, which are fixed to a shaft, E, mounted on the frame A. One of -the said levers is depressed by means 3 5 of a cam, G, secured to the shaft G of a beater, H, diagonal to which is a heater, J, the shaft J whereof and the shaft G being mounted on the frame A. The beaters H J consist of cylinders, each having surface projections a. The

0 return motion of the lever F is accomplished by a spring, I), suitably applied.

KK represent two corrugated rollers mounted on the frame A, and arranged one above the other, the upper roller, K, having connected to its shaft a ratchet-wheel, L, with which engages a pawl, L, whereby an intermittent motion is imparted to said roller K. The pawl is hinged to an upright lever, M, whose lower end is moved in one direction by the engaging contact of the lever or arm F, and in the other direction by a spring, 1), whereby the pawl is advanced and returned and the ratchet receives its motion.

Fixed to the shaft of the roller K is a spurwheel, 0, which meshes with a spur-wheel, c, the axis of which latter has secured to it a breaker, N, consisting of a grooved cylinder, the grooves receiving toothed bars d, which are loosely fitted thereto and properly guided, and receive lateral motion by means of a scal- 6o loped or zigzag wheel, P, which bears against one end of the series of toothed bars d, and is secured to a shaft loosely mounted in the cylinder ofthe breaker N, it being noticed that while the breaker has an intermittent motion the wheel P has a continuous motion, the shaft of said wheel carrying a suitable band or other gear-wheel for purposes of operation. The ends of the bars 01 opposite to the Wheel P bear against a spring or springs, to cause the return motion of said bars advanced by the wheel P; but, if desired, said wheel may be so return motions of the bars are occasioned.

Mounted on the frame A above the breaker N is an intermittently-operated roller, Q,which serves to hold the fiax against said breaker; and likewise mounted on said frame, adjacent to the heaters H J and at the rearof the frame, are two discharge-rollers, R, which, with the beaters H J, are continuously rotated.

Beneath the hammer or brake D is a bed or support, D, circumscribing which are pieces D, forming a lifter for the flax when the hammer or brake D is elevated, said lifters then rising above the bed D. The lifter is connected to a hinged or rocking support, D, whose outer end carries a weight or is provided with a spring, as at D, for causing the lifter to return to its normal position. (See Fig. 3.) l

Within each beater H J is a fan or blower,

S, whose axes f f are independent or free of the tubular axes G J of said beaters, the former being inclosed in the latter, it being noticed. that said axes G J are provided with a number of pulleys, g, around which pass cross-belts passed from a number of pulleys, h, on the driving-shaft, the object whereof is to change the direction of rotation of the heaters H J. v

The operation is as follows: Power is applied to the various shafts, and the flax, placed on the table 13, is pushed under the hammer D and beaten and broken down. The lifter D raises the broken flax above the bed D, so that it does not adhere thereto and is in line for the rollers K K, which further break or crush the flax, which next reaches the breaking or scutching wheel N, between which and the roller Q the flax is subjected to the lateral working action of the toothed bars d of said wheel N, so that the shive or woody fragments are removed and the fiber to a certain extent separated. The beaters H J then act on the flax, so as to drive out the shive, and the fans S blow or carry away said'shive, dust, &c., the rollers R then passing out the flax, ready for other necessary operations beyond the work of the present machine. When the rear end of the flax leaves the rollers K K the action of the heaters H J is to force the flax into a mass or lump; but when this state of the case is reached the belts on the pulleys 7a are shifted so as to cause the boaters H J to rotate in reverse direction to that shown by the arrows, Fig. 3, whereby, while the rollers R R draw along the flax, said heaters, now actin g against the flax, keep it straightened out, the advantages whereof are evident.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The hammer or brake D and bed D, in combination with the lifter D, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The breaking or scutching wheel N, havin g bars d, adapted for lateral operation, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The intermittent-acting rollers KK and intermittent-acting scutching-wheel N, with moving bars d, in combination with the continuously-operated zigzag wheel P, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4:. The beaters H J, with inclosed fans S, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The brake D, rollers K K scutchingwheel N, roller Q, beaters H J, fans S, and discharge-rollers It, combined and operating substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

WM. A. WRIGHT.

Witnesses:

JOHN A. WIEDERSHEIM, A. P. GRANT. 

